Growing Our Voice is born out of the courageous hope to cultivate presence and compassion in our lives. My advocacy began at young age, but became most obvious when I began my career as an educator. During these years, I developed a critical understanding of the importance relationships play in teaching, learning and leading. I further explored this understanding when writing my dissertation on teacher-student and supervisor-teacher relationships. This research ignited an interest in supporting the well-being (professionally and personally) of teachers.
Soon after graduating with my Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.), I realized that I did not know how to nurture my inner life, which negatively affected my well-being and that of my family’s well-being. I felt bereft of a joyful existence, crippled by stress, grief, overwhelm, resentment, perfectionism and a dysregulated nervous system (to name just few!). I was experiencing toxic levels of empathic distress, fatigue and burnout. The most mundane thing caused intense reactivity. This was not how I wanted to live my life nor what I wanted for my family. Somehow I found the courage to study and practice mindfulness mediation and compassion. Nurturing my inner life by deepening my awareness of my relationship to experience, understanding emotions and processing trauma has been both challenging and liberating. Learning and practicing meditation was the catalyst to my healing journey. Mindfulness became the lighthouse helping me take one breath at a time and to see with clarity what was happening in the present moment. Self-compassion became the salve for the deep wounds I spent years trying to heal through unskillful ways.
My journey has inspired me to seek out ways to build awareness of mindfulness and compassion practices, and the benefits of meditation. This has led to creating this site, what I hope is a true integration of my knowledge as an educator, a parent and a practitioner.
I aspire to embody the value of a lifelong learner, or as a former mentor/teacher of mine, Alison Cohen, described me as “lifelong learner-healer.” I continue to deepen my personal practice because life ceases to be difficult:) In addition to being a part of meditation groups, participating in retreats and receiving guidance from mentors, I maintain a formal daily meditation practice. I aspire to create a space for inspiration, reflection, exploration and connection. I welcome you to join me on this path of awakening to the wisdom of our hearts and embracing our courage to connect compassionately and mindfully with our lived experience. Please reach out and let me know how I can be of compassionate service to you.
